Plan a flight · Mon 11:19 am EDT (15:19 UTC)

Philadelphia International to Alexandria International PHL → AEX

986 nautical miles (1,135 statute miles) southwest on a straight line, true course 244°, about 256° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12W). At 120 knots that is 8 h 21 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 2-knot headwind), arriving about 6:40 pm CDT (23:40 UTC). Right now PHL is marginal VFR, wind from the north (350°) at 11 knots; AEX is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 6 knots. For planning, not a briefing: the legal preflight briefing comes from Flight Service (1-800-WX-BRIEF) or the FAA's own tools. Airlines fly this pair: 1 flights in the DOT's last twelve reported months, the route's page.

The route the straight line, the warnings crossed, restrictions, pilot reports and the airports along the way · click a mark for its words

Green, blue, red and purple airport dots are the flying conditions reported there now (VFR, marginal VFR, IFR, low IFR); grey means no report. Red areas are SIGMETs, orange areas AIRMETs, hatched red areas temporary flight restrictions. Map tiles: OpenFreeMap, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Warnings the route crosses SIGMETs and AIRMETs whose area the line passes through or comes within 25 nm of

AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 24,000 ft to 40,000 ft. Over the first 129 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 119 to 319 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 229 to 418 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, mist). Over the route from 259 to 418 nm out.

A SIGMET warns of weather hazardous to all aircraft; an AIRMET of weather that matters to small aircraft and to flying without instruments. "From 60 to 180 nm out" is measured along the route from PHL.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

B738 at 36,000 ft, 10 nm northwest, 8:54 am EDT (12:54 UTC): moderate turbulence. At the departure end, 10 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PTW UA /OV MXE240005/TM 1254/FL360/TP B738/TB MOD
```
Report
a routine report filed through PTW
Where
5 nm southwest (240°) of MXE
Time
12:54 UTC
Height
at 36,000 ft
Aircraft
B738
Turbulence
moderate
BCS3 at 900 ft, 39 nm southeast, 11:17 am EDT (15:17 UTC): remarks: base reported at 900 ft approach 31. At the departure end, 39 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ACY UA /OV KACY/TM 1517/FL009/TP BCS3/RM BASE REPORTED 009 APPROACH 31
```
Report
a routine report filed through ACY
Where
over KACY
Time
15:17 UTC
Height
at 900 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Remarks
base reported at 900 ft approach 31
BCS3 at 1,500 ft, 39 nm southeast, 11:09 am EDT (15:09 UTC): overcast up to 1,500 ft. At the departure end, 39 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ACY UA /OV KACY/TM 1509/FL015/TP BCS3/SK OVC-TOP015
```
Report
a routine report filed through ACY
Where
over KACY
Time
15:09 UTC
Height
at 1,500 ft
Aircraft
BCS3
Sky
overcast, tops 1,500 ft
B737 descending, 45 nm southeast, 10:20 am EDT (14:20 UTC): a broken layer above 800 ft, remarks: low-level wind shear a 10-knot loss of airspeed during the descent runway 31. At the departure end, 45 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ACY UA /OV ACY130005/TM 1420/FLDURD/TP B737/SK BKN008/RM LLWS +/-10 DURD RY31
```
Report
a routine report filed through ACY
Where
5 nm southeast (130°) of ACY
Time
14:20 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B737
Sky
a broken layer from 800 ft
Remarks
low-level wind shear a 10-knot loss of airspeed during the descent runway 31
B737 at 800 ft, 39 nm southeast, 10:17 am EDT (14:17 UTC): remarks: broke out at at 800 ft approach 31. At the departure end, 39 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ACY UA /OV KACY/TM 1417/FL008/TP B737/RM BROKE OUT AT 008 APPROACH 31
```
Report
a routine report filed through ACY
Where
over KACY
Time
14:17 UTC
Height
at 800 ft
Aircraft
B737
Remarks
broke out at at 800 ft approach 31
P28A at 1,100 ft, 40 nm southeast, 10:16 am EDT (14:16 UTC): overcast above 1,100 ft, remarks: during the climb runway 31. At the departure end, 40 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ACY UA /OV ACY/TM 1416/FL011/TP P28A/SK OVC011/RM DURC RWY31
```
Report
a routine report filed through ACY
Where
over ACY
Time
14:16 UTC
Height
at 1,100 ft
Aircraft
P28A
Sky
overcast from 1,100 ft
Remarks
during the climb runway 31
B739 at 25,000 ft, 26 nm northwest, 9:51 am EDT (13:51 UTC): light to moderate turbulence. At the departure end, 26 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PTW UA /OV PTW/TM 1351/FL250/TP B739/TB LGT-MOD
```
Report
a routine report filed through PTW
Where
over PTW
Time
13:51 UTC
Height
at 25,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Turbulence
light to moderate
CRJ9 climbing, 0 nm northwest, 9:45 am EDT (13:45 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 0 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PHL UA /OV PHL/TM 1345/FLDURC/TP CRJ9/SK BASES 016 TOPS 026
```
Report
a routine report filed through PHL
Where
over PHL
Time
13:45 UTC
Height
during the climb
Aircraft
CRJ9
Sky
bases 1,600 ft tops 2,600 ft
PC24 at 1,400 ft, 13 nm northeast, 9:45 am EDT (13:45 UTC): a broken layer above 1,400 ft, remarks: during the descent runway 6. At the departure end, 13 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PNE UA /OV KPNE240003/TM 1345/FL014/TP PC24/SK BKN014/RM DURD RY6
```
Report
a routine report filed through PNE
Where
3 nm southwest (240°) of KPNE
Time
13:45 UTC
Height
at 1,400 ft
Aircraft
PC24
Sky
a broken layer from 1,400 ft
Remarks
during the descent runway 6
CL60 at 500 ft, 39 nm southeast, 9:43 am EDT (13:43 UTC): remarks: bvase reported at 500 ft final runway 31. At the departure end, 39 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ACY UA /OV KACY/TM 1343/FL005/TP CL60/RM BVASE REPORTED 005 FINAL RWY 31
```
Report
a routine report filed through ACY
Where
over KACY
Time
13:43 UTC
Height
at 500 ft
Aircraft
CL60
Remarks
bvase reported at 500 ft final runway 31
A319 at 1,200 ft, 3 nm east, 9:22 am EDT (13:22 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 3 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PHL UA /OV PHL090003/TM 1322/FL012/TP A319/SK BASES 014
```
Report
a routine report filed through PHL
Where
3 nm east (090°) of PHL
Time
13:22 UTC
Height
at 1,200 ft
Aircraft
A319
Sky
bases 1,400 ft
C172 at 2,000 ft, 44 nm southeast, 9:10 am EDT (13:10 UTC): remarks: in between at at 3,000 ft instrument conditions at at 2,000 ft. At the departure end, 44 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ACY UA /OV OBI/TM 1310/FL020/TP C172/RM IN BETWEEN AT 030 / IMC AT 020
```
Report
a routine report filed through ACY
Where
over OBI
Time
13:10 UTC
Height
at 2,000 ft
Aircraft
C172
Remarks
in between at at 3,000 ft instrument conditions at at 2,000 ft
C700 at 500 ft, 39 nm southeast, 9:07 am EDT (13:07 UTC): remarks: base reported at 500 ft. At the departure end, 39 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
ACY UA /OV KACY/TM 1307/FL005/TP C700/RM BASE REPORTED 005
```
Report
a routine report filed through ACY
Where
over KACY
Time
13:07 UTC
Height
at 500 ft
Aircraft
C700
Remarks
base reported at 500 ft
C525 at 1,000 ft, 2 nm east, 9:05 am EDT (13:05 UTC): a routine report with nothing remarked on. At the departure end, 2 nm east of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
PHL UA /OV PHL090002/TM 1305/FL010/TP C525/SK BASES 013
```
Report
a routine report filed through PHL
Where
2 nm east (090°) of PHL
Time
13:05 UTC
Height
at 1,000 ft
Aircraft
C525
Sky
bases 1,300 ft

16 more routine reports are on the map.

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 14:00–21:00 UTC · at 120 knots true airspeed

The westbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: even thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 11 forecast points nearest it (ACY, RIC, EKN, ROA, CRW, TRI, TYS, HSV, BHM, JAN, LCH). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

Height	Average wind	Head- or tailwind	Temperature	Ground speed	Time en route	Arrival
4,500 ft	320° at 12 kt	+2 kt	15 °C	118 kt	8 h 21 min	6:40 pm CDT (23:40 UTC)
6,500 ft	320° at 13 kt	+2 kt	14 °C	118 kt	8 h 21 min	6:40 pm CDT (23:40 UTC)
8,500 ft	320° at 15 kt	+3 kt	11 °C	117 kt	8 h 26 min	6:45 pm CDT (23:45 UTC)
10,500 ft	320° at 16 kt	+3 kt	8 °C	117 kt	8 h 26 min	6:45 pm CDT (23:45 UTC)
12,500 ft	320° at 18 kt	+4 kt	5 °C	116 kt	8 h 30 min	6:49 pm CDT (23:49 UTC)
14,500 ft	310° at 19 kt	+6 kt	1 °C	114 kt	8 h 39 min	6:58 pm CDT (23:58 UTC)
16,500 ft	310° at 20 kt	+8 kt	-3 °C	112 kt	8 h 48 min	7:07 pm CDT (00:07 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	300° at 22 kt	+9 kt	-6 °C	111 kt	8 h 53 min	7:12 pm CDT (00:12 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	300° at 24 kt	+12 kt	-18 °C	108 kt	9 h 08 min	7:27 pm CDT (00:27 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	320° at 35 kt	+8 kt	-33 °C	112 kt	8 h 48 min	7:07 pm CDT (00:07 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	320° at 43 kt	+8 kt	-41 °C	112 kt	8 h 48 min	7:07 pm CDT (00:07 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	320° at 41 kt	+5 kt	-50 °C	115 kt	8 h 34 min	6:53 pm CDT (23:53 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 12:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 18:00 UTC for use 14:00 to 21:00 UTC; temperatures above 24,000 ft are below zero. Heights are above sea level; a height is left out when the forecast has no wind for it over most of the line (the ground is higher). Ground speed is the airspeed less the headwind; the time en route is for the straight line and ignores climb, descent and routing around weather.

The forecast points as issued

Point	From	3,000	6,000	9,000	12,000	18,000	24,000	30,000	34,000	39,000
ACY	used from 0 nm out; 55 nm from the line	010/26	360/24 11°	350/28 8°	350/26 4°	340/29 -8°	350/39 -21°	350/57 -35°	350/52 -43°	310/50 -50°
RIC	used from 100 nm out; 87 nm from the line	350/24	350/28 14°	340/25 8°	340/26 5°	340/40 -6°	340/44 -19°	340/48 -33°	330/45 -42°	310/38 -50°
EKN	used from 149 nm out; 63 nm from the line		320/20 15°	340/24 10°	340/25 4°	310/28 -7°	290/32 -19°	290/36 -36°	300/49 -43°	310/48 -50°
ROA	used from 249 nm out; 34 nm from the line	310/18	350/22 15°	350/21 9°	340/24 6°	320/31 -6°	310/34 -19°	310/39 -35°	310/46 -42°	310/33 -49°
CRW	used from 299 nm out; 63 nm from the line	270/8	320/23 15°	320/22 10°	330/25 5°	300/30 -6°	290/34 -19°	280/37 -35°	290/48 -42°	310/58 -50°
TRI	used from 349 nm out; 29 nm from the line		340/26 15°	330/23 10°	330/23 6°	290/28 -6°	290/32 -19°	290/36 -34°	310/47 -41°	320/47 -49°
TYS	used from 448 nm out; 16 nm from the line	320/8	330/17 16°	320/17 9°	310/24 6°	290/23 -6°	290/28 -19°	300/36 -33°	310/48 -40°	320/46 -50°
HSV	used from 548 nm out; 61 nm from the line	290/11	300/10 15°	300/17 12°	290/20 6°	290/18 -5°	290/25 -17°	310/38 -31°	320/47 -40°	330/43 -50°
BHM	used from 697 nm out; 78 nm from the line	310/11	310/13 16°	310/18 11°	300/17 6°	300/14 -5°	300/20 -17°	320/35 -30°	320/43 -40°	340/38 -50°
JAN	used from 747 nm out; 81 nm from the line	210/8	230/13 18°	240/10 11°	260/11 6°	280/16 -5°	260/12 -15°	330/34 -30°	320/39 -40°	340/34 -51°
LCH	used from 946 nm out; 98 nm from the line	170/9	180/18 18°	190/13 13°	190/6 8°	270/11 -6°	290/20 -13°	320/21 -30°	350/23 -40°	360/25 -51°

The weather now: both ends and the airports along the way public airports with a weather report within 25 nm of the line, one for each stretch

Airport	Where	Conditions	Wind	Visibility	Ceiling	Elevation	Reported
PHL Philadelphia, PA	departure	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,800 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet	from the north (350°) at 11 knots	10+ mi	1,800 ft	35 ft	10:54 am EDT (14:54 UTC)
ILG Wilmington, DE	20 nm out, 3 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,100 feet	from the northwest (320°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	none	79 ft	15:13 UTC
IAD Washington, DC	119 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 2,700 feet, a broken layer at 3,300 feet	from the north-northwest (330°) at 14 knots, gusting to 24	10+ mi	2,700 ft	312 ft	14:52 UTC
LWB Lewisburg, WV	269 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line, tower	marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,900 feet	from the west-northwest (290°) at 8 knots, gusting to 15	10+ mi	1,900 ft	2,301 ft	14:45 UTC
JFZ Richlands, VA	349 nm out, 5 nm south of the line	low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist	from the west-northwest (290°) at 3 knots	2.5 mi	200 ft	2,653 ft	14:55 UTC
TYS Knoxville, TN	478 nm out, 15 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 400 feet, a few clouds at 2,300 feet, a few clouds at 18,000 feet	from the south-southwest (210°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	986 ft	14:53 UTC
CHA Chattanooga, TN	558 nm out, 23 nm southeast of the line, tower	low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist	calm	1 mi	200 ft	682 ft	15:03 UTC
HSV Huntsville, AL	637 nm out, 4 nm east of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 20,000 feet	from the southeast (140°) at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	628 ft	14:53 UTC
GTR Columbus/W Point/Starkville, MS	747 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	variable at 4 knots	10+ mi	none	264 ft	14:56 UTC
HKS Jackson, MS	856 nm out, 20 nm southeast of the line, tower	VFR	from the northwest (310°) at 3 knots	10+ mi	none	341 ft	14:53 UTC
HEZ Natchez, MS	926 nm out, 24 nm southeast of the line	VFR	from the southwest (220°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	272 ft	14:56 UTC
AEX Alexandria, LA	destination	VFR	from the south (170°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	88 ft	9:53 am CDT (14:53 UTC)

The highest airport on this list sits at 2,653 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At AEX when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:40 pm CDT (23:40 UTC)

Wind from the south-southeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR

The whole forecast for AEX

From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
From Mon 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 4 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet

The forecast for PHL, the departure

From Mon 11:00 am EDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the north at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 9:00 pm EDT (01:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
From Tue 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 15,000 feet

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA 2 nm from the route, 100 nm along the route · security · ZDC
6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local on the route, 110 nm along the route · a VIP movement · today · ZDC

Daylight

Sunset at PHL 6:26 pm EDT (22:26 UTC), at AEX 6:42 pm CDT (23:42 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:06 pm CDT (00:06 UTC)).

Each restriction opens the FAA's own page with the exact area, heights and times. Ordinary notices to air missions (closed runways, lights out) are not shown: the FAA's notice search is not open to sites like this one at this time.

Radar and forecast charts for the regions crossed government pictures, the latest each time the page loads

Radar now, the Northeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the Southeast · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the lower Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

Sources: the Aviation Weather Center's data service (SIGMETs, AIRMETs, graphical AIRMETs, pilot reports, winds and temperatures aloft, observations and terminal forecasts), the National Weather Service radar, the Weather Prediction Center's charts, the FAA's temporary flight restriction list and shapes, and the FAA's airport file for the positions, elevations and magnetic variation. Fetched when the page is viewed and kept a few minutes. Each leg is the straight line between its two airports; airways, terrain and airspace are not considered. The airports in detail: Philadelphia International, Alexandria International.